HISTORY OF POLAND

The origins of Poland dates back to the 10th century when in the year 966 Slavs established a permanent settlement and founded the Polish state. During 15th and 16th century Poles was one of the largest nations in Europe. The country flourished under a commonwealth with Lithuania. In the late 17th century Poland had some great military successes e.g. king Jan Sobieski defeated and drove back a Turkish army that laid siege to Vienna. However in the late 17th and 18th century Poland was weakened by the lack of an effective central government and this resulted in the country being divided among three neighbouring countries of Austria, Prussia and Russia. They did not regain independence until the end of WWI in 1918.

In September 1939 Germany’s invasion of Poland triggered the start of World War II. The Poles fought bravely but on the 17th of September the Russians invaded from the east, and all resistance ceased by the beginning of October. Some Polish soldiers and airman escaped abroad and fought with Nazi all over the world -for e.g in June 1940 Polish airmen played a major role in the Battle of Britain. After World War II Poland was devastated and nearly 25% of the population was killed.

The government was under Soviet Union influense which resulted in Communism being imposed on the Poles. In 1980 after announcing a price hike of up to 100% in certain foods the shipyard in Gdansk went on strike. The workers leader was an electrician named Lech Walesa. They drew up a list of demands which were accepted by the government and workers formed a mass movement called Solidarity.

In June 1989 the communist party in Poland lost the election . As a result of this Poland left the Soviet Union Block and this triggered the collapse of communism all over Europe. In 1990, Solidarity's then chairman Lech Wałesa became the first elected president of Poland . In 1997 Poland joined NATO, in 2004 Poland joined the European Union and in 2007 Poland joined the Schengen Area.

THE COAT OF ARMS

The Polish coat of arms consists an image of an white eagle in a red field which wearing a golden crown, with its wings outstretched, its head turned to its right and its beak and talons golden,

An eagle is the symbol of the ruling dynasty appeared for the first time in the 13th century – it was accepted as the national coat of arms after Poland regained its independence in 1919

NATIONAL COLOURS

The national colours of Poland are white and red. White is used in heraldry in the value of spiritual purity and immaculate and red is a symbol of courage and bravery

The flag of Poland consists of two horizontal, parallel stripes of equal width: the upper stripe is white (the color of the White Eagle) and the lower stripe is red (the color of the field of the Polish coat of arms).

According to the law, everyone can use the Polish flag, especially during national and cultural events, as long as it is done in a respectful manner

The largest Polish flag flying from the Freedom Mast in Warsaw, which, at 63 metres, is Poland's tallest flag pole